any pharmacists around please? not aibu but need an answer

[fairyofallthings]

Children 12 to 15 years: Take one to one and a half tablets every 4 to 6 hours, as required.
Don’t take more than 6 tablets (4 doses) in any 24 hours.
Children 10 to 12 years: Take one tablet every 4 to 6 hours as required.
Don’t take more than 4 tablets (4 doses) in any 24 hours.

For a 12 year old would you give 1 or 1 1/2 tablets? The instructions are ambiguous. We've erred on the side of caution and given one.

Thanks.

Depends how big they are as dosage is as much by weight as age for most medicines.

I would give my DS the larger dose as he is large (about 98 percentile, average for two years older) for his age, but not for my Dd who is average for her age.

Not a pharmacist but my 11yo DD was given the equivalent to 1.5 tablets in hospital and we were told to carry on with the same at home. This may have been accurately weight calculated dose however.

What drug is it? Is one tablet doing the job?

One and a half will be fine for a twelve year old because they're included in the age range for the higher dose.

For most OTC drugs the guideline doses are well within the safe dose anyway.

Not medical but I would probably judge that one slightly based on the severity of symptoms. If they where just mild I would go with the lower dose if really struggling the higher.

Paracetamol?

Depends on size of child - large for age give 1.5, small for age give 1 - average sized child then go with symptoms - if 1 isn't hacking it go with 1.5 - always err on the side of caution.

sorry, yes paracetomol - I missed that bit out.

We've gone with 1 for now as they are tall for their age but very slim but I'll possibly give 1 1/2 if needed next time.

Thank you.